Agenda and minutes

M. Richardson (RTPI)

Cllr S. Barton explained that she had written the Heritage Statement for item A.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 17^th March are attached and the Panel is asked to confirm them as a correct record.

The Panel agreed the notes.

The Director of Planning, Development and Transportation submits a report on planning applications received for consideration by the Panel.

A) Hinckley Road, Western Park Open Air School

Planning Application 20202126 and 20202119

Change of use to office (use class E(g)(i)) and community building with cafe; demolition of two buildings and fire damaged elements; construction of three new elements; extensions; construction of bridge over watercourse and new internal driveway.

Internal and external alterations to listed buildings to facilitate change of use to offices and community building with cafe; demolition of two buildings and fire damaged elements; construction of three new elements; extensions; construction of new access driveway and footbridge over watercourse.

The panel focussed on the poor condition of the buildings on site and their long term vacancy, offering support to the principle of a development that brought the site back into use. They considered that there was a lack of three-dimensional imagery of how the new structures would look in relation to the existing older ones and requested that some new drawings be produced. These could be ‘part elevations’ to reduce the cost. Some concerns expressed about window detail and materials, but these were considered best negotiated via the Planning Officer and colleagues. 

SEEK AMENDEMENTS

B) 20 St Peter's Lane, Former Debenhams, Highcross

Planning Application 20210461

Demolition of vacant retail store and car parking spaces; construction of 15, 13 and 8 storey building comprising commercial floorspace on lower and upper ground floor (Class E) and 332 residential units (Class C3); associated access, parking, cycle parking, refuse and amenity landscaping

The panel were supportive of the principle of redevelopment and had no objection to the demolition of the existing building on the site. They considered that the new use would be likely to increase footfall in the local area and that this would be beneficial to the vibrancy of the adjacent commercial streets and support investment in the historic building stock. However, they considered that the development was out of scale with the character of the area and the taller elements did not have a grounding in the existing townscape context. The scale was such that it would harm the setting of nearby heritage assets, such as the Great Meeting House, and compete with the existing nationally listed landmarks of the Cathedral and St Margaret’s Church.

The panel were supportive of the increased active frontage to East Bond Street and after a debate considered that the bricks - whilst quite a heavy treatment, had some merit in terms of the context, with some of the architectural detail, such as the deep recesses, praised. The scale of this element was considered to be quite large, but not significantly out of scale with the existing structure. Although additional verified views were requested, the lower element was considered to be potentially acceptable. However, the taller 13 and 15 storey elements were of concern, both in terms of bulk and height, with a lack of distinctive ‘landmark architectural quality’ that could have helped in those terms.

OBJECTIONS

C) 32-40 Market Street, former Fenwick Building

Planning Application 20210155 and 20210156

Alterations and replacement of shopfronts;  ...  view the full minutes text for item 164.